This article addresses the need for systematic theory comparison and development in environmentally significant behavior (ESB) research. Using logistic regression (N = 398), models based on Schwartz's norm-activation theory (NAT) and Ajzen's theory of planned behavior (TPB) were compared as explanations of drivers' intentions to reduce or maintain their car use for commuting. NAT explained more variance (McFadden R² = .342). A model using NAT and TPB constructs was also tested. This explained more variance than either individual theory (McFadden R² = .379). A personal-normative variable (NAT) and perceived behavioral control (TPB) were the only statistically-significant predictors of intentions in the model derived from both theories. It is argued that combining NAT and TPB constructs accounts for a range of influences on car-use intentions that neither individual theory fully captures. A combined model may also apply to other ESBs, especially those perceived as reducing personal utility (i.e., entailing sacrifice).


Cotton, which comes from flowering Gossypium plants, is a key vegetable fiber used for making clothes, and oil from its seeds can be used in cooking or for making soap. The cotton plant grows in 17 states that make up the U.S. “Cotton Belt”: California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and Kansas. In the United States, where cotton is no longer picked by hand, machines called pickers or strippers harvest the crops.
Cotton-picking machines have spindles that pick (twist) the seed cotton from the burrs that are attached to plants’ stems. Doffers— a series of circular rubber pads—then remove the seed cotton from the spindles and knock the seed cotton into a conveying system. Conventional cotton stripping machines use rollers equipped with alternating bats and brushes to knock the fluffy white bolls, which contain seeds and hairs, from the plants into a conveyor. After harvest, most of the cotton is pressed into large blocks for storage. These cotton bundles are then transported to the cotton gin, a machine that pulls out the seeds from the cotton bolls.


Onchain trackers reveal that retailers purchasing 1 BTC or less are ramping up at the fastest pace in Bitcoin’s history.
Retailers are Ramping Up on Bitcoin
In a tweet shared on July 20, an analyst noted that the current rate of retail Bitcoin acquisition was in early 2018 levels when prices were trending at around the $20k mark. However, based on historical performance, retailers FOMOed in then, purchasing the coin at cyclic highs before prices tanked to as low as $3.2k at the depth of the 2018 bear market.
Compared to early 2018 price levels, BTC could be at a cyclic bottom at spot rates. According to price trackers on July 21, Bitcoin prices are roughly 25 percent from 2022 lows, recovering after posting deep losses that saw the coin drop by over 70 percent from November 2021 peaks. The refreshing bounce to over $24k on July 20 coincided with retailers’ expansion in coin purchases. This development may hint at improving sentiment and possible higher highs in subsequent sessions.
Will Retailers Sell after the U.S. FED Raise Rates?
Even so, it is still unclear whether retail accumulation signals a shift in the trend and a welcomed recovery that may propel BTC back to the $30k zone. Instead, factoring in macro factors, especially the U.S. FED’s expected hike of interest rates to curb runaway inflation, it is likely that the cryptocurrency and the broader financial markets may take a hit, forcing digital assets down.
Based on economists’ forecasts, the central bank will likely increase the U.S. fund rates by 75 bps even though the probability of a triple-digit rise by 100 bps is increasing. This is after U.S. inflation rose to 9.1 percent year-to-date, the highest in 40 years. Considering how the crypto market performed earlier, interest rate hikes could see BTC prices recoil, subsequently impacting trading volumes, denting trade confidence, and forcing “weak hands”, primarily retailers, to liquidate for cash.
The CEO of
CryptoQuant, an on-chain tracking platform, Ki Young-Ju, is also skeptical that the current accumulation amongst retailers would be causative, forcing prices higher. Specifically, the executive noted a few flaws in the wallet address statistics used for analysis, noting that addresses with less than 1 BTC also included “one-time used mixer wallets alongside retail investors” for concealing transactions. In his preview, these addresses were most likely used for money laundering or were part of over-the-counter deals. Bitcoin Price Movement a Major Influence on Retail Purchase Behavior
The broader crypto community is nonetheless keeping a close eye on Bitcoin’s short to medium-term performance. Despite the USD value of the digital asset shrinking in the last seven months, the coin’s utility remains high. Therefore, the coin’s recovery will most likely draw in more holders. Most will be accumulating in anticipation of capital gains, riding with the rising crypto tide.
As reported, Tesla, who had purchased $1.5 billion of BTC in January 2021, said it had liquidated 75 percent of its holding in Q2 2022, pocketing $936 million. The electric vehicle manufacturer’s entry into crypto and Bitcoin lifted the coin’s profile, attracting many retail traders and investors to the digital asset.


In anticipation of an increase in infrastructure funding, states are bolstering their knowledge of high-speed internet networks by opening or expanding broadband offices. The states are responsible for using additional funding totaling over $40 billion to bring high-speed internet access to every resident of the United States, and they could use some assistance in making this happen. According to information provided to Axios by The Pew Charitable Trusts, the director position is the most often advertised vacancy at the growing number of state broadband offices.


The global commercial aircraft market, valued at just over US$191 billion in 2018, is expected to grow at a CAGR of about 2.9% to be valued at around US$255 billion by 2028. The cumulative market for global expenditure on commercial aircraft is valued at US$2.3 trillion over the forecast period. Global expenditure on commercial aircraft is expected to show steady growth over the forecast period due to growing investments in infrastructure, initiatives to connect secondary cities with prime aviation hubs across a number of countries, and the increasing affluence of air travel, especially by rising middle-class populations in emerging countries.
Additionally, fueled by increasing air traffic, the emergence of low cost carriers (LCC) serves as a key factor for the growth of the sector globally. Concerns to enhance operational efficiency by reducing fuel consumption has prompted LCCs to opt for newer aircraft models, which also acts a major factor for increasing investments in the sector worldwide. Following LCCs, several legacy airlines are adopting similar business models with a target to increase operational efficiency and prepare for future sustenance in an ever-increasing competitive scenario.
The single aisle aircraft segment will account for a share of over 56% of the global commercial aircraft market over 2018-2028. The segment attracts investments from all regions primarily owing to the increasing operations of short-haul flight routes by LCCs. The single aisle aircraft segment in Asia-Pacific will account for a share of about 43% over the forecast period, whereas in the European and North American markets, it is anticipated to hold about 20.3% and 18.4% shares respectively. Similarly, in Middle East the segment will account for 8% of the market, while in Latin America and Africa, it is expected to hold 7.9% and 1.8%, respectively.
The commercial aviation market, along with its value chain entities, was one of the first industries to adopt new technologies, helping reduce a number of challenges encountered in regular operations. As such, the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) for aircraft manufacturing is expected to significantly improve future operations. The importance of AI has been recognized by aircraft OEMs and MRO service providers, with the later having moved ahead to apply such technologies for faster and more efficient operations.
The report “The Global Commercial Aircraft Market 2018-2028”, offers a detailed analysis of the industry, with market size forecasts covering the next ten years. This report will also analyze factors that influence demand for commercial aircraft, key market trends, and challenges faced by industry participants.
The report provides an in-depth analysis of the following
– Overview: Snapshot of the commercial aircraft market over 2018-2028, including highlights of the demand drivers, trends and challenges. It also provides a snapshot of the spending with respect to regions as well as segments
– Market Dynamics: Insights into the technological developments in the commercial aircraft market and a detailed analysis of the changing preferences of governments around the world. It also analyzes changing industry structure trends and the challenges faced by the industry participants
– Segment Analysis: Insights into the commercial aircraft market from a segmental perspective and a detailed analysis of factors influencing the market for each sector
– Regional Review: Insights into modernization patterns and budgetary allocation for top countries within a region
– Regional Analysis: Insights into the commercial aircraft market from a regional perspective and a detailed analysis of factors influencing the market for each region
– Trend Analysis – Key Defense Market: Analysis of the key markets in each region, providing an analysis of the commercial aircraft segments expected to be in demand in each region
– Key Program Analysis: Details of the top programs in each segment expected to be executed over the forecast period
– Competitive Landscape Analysis: Analysis of the competitive landscape of the global commercial aircraft industry. It provides an overview of key defense companies, together with insights such as key alliances, strategic initiatives and a brief financial analysis.
Companies mentioned in this report: Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, Embraer, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd. (COMAC)
Scope
– The global commercial aircraft market, valued at US$191.1 billion in 2018, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.93% to value US$255.1 billion by 2028.
– The market consists of five categories: Single-Aisle aircraft, Twin-aisle aircraft, Regional Jets, Cargo Aircraft, and Business Jets.
– It is expected to be dominated by the Single-Aisle segment, followed by Twin-Aisle and Regional Jets segments.
– Asia Pacific followed by North America and Europe to remain the key markets for procurement of commercial aicraft over the forecast period.
Reasons to buy
– Determine prospective investment areas based on a detailed trend analysis of the global commercial aircraft market over the next ten years
– Gain in-depth understanding about the underlying factors driving demand for different commercial aircraft segments in the top spending countries across the world and identify the opportunities offered by each of them
– Strengthen your understanding of the market in terms of demand drivers, industry trends, and the latest technological developments, among others
– Identify the major channels that are driving the global commercial aircraft market, providing a clear picture about future opportunities that can be tapped, resulting in revenue expansion
– Channelize resources by focusing on the ongoing programs that are being undertaken by the commercial airline companies of different countries within the global commerical aircraft market
– Make correct business decisions based on thorough analysis of the total competitive landscape of the sector with detailed profiles of the top commercial aircraft manufacturers around the world which include information about their products, alliances, recent contract wins and financial analysis wherever available
About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need – instantly, in one place.


Recently, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many parties to a commercial contract have been unable to perform their contractual duties and obligations under the contract. As a result, they desire to terminate the contract or the contractual relationship.
If a party to a contract is unable to perform a required obligation under a contract there may be specific terms included in the contract directly addressing the failure to perform. These terms may excuse one or more of the parties from the required performance or may be invoked to terminate the contract.
One contract clause or term to look for in a contract which may terminate the contract without breaching the contract for non-performance is a ‘force majeure’ clause. This clause operates to terminate a contract, or excuse a party’s non-performance of a contract, upon certain defined events. These events generally include ‘acts of God’ such as a war, terror attack, hurricane, earthquake or other similar type of catastrophic event that is beyond the direct control of a party and which adversely affects that party’s ability to perform the contract.
A force majeure clause is only enforceable if the event described was ‘unforeseeable’ by the parties when they entered into the contract, and it’s scope and breadth is limited to only the specific events listed in the force majeure clause in the contract.
For example, the word ‘pandemic’ is required to be recited in the force majeure clause in the contract if a party is relying on the force majeure clause to terminate the contract during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Also, the parties must not have foreseen or known about the COVID-19 pandemic when they entered into the contract. If the parties entered into the contract after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, or during the pandemic, or at a time when they reasonably should have known about the pandemic, the force majeure clause is then unenforceable in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also, a force majeure clause is not enforceable unless it is ‘impossible’ for the party invoking the clause to perform as required under the contract. If there is any possibility of performance of the contract (even a very remote possibility), the force majeure clause will not excuse non-performance by the invoking party or will not serve to terminate the contractual relationship.
Due to the very limited circumstances in which a force majeure clause will excuse a party’s non-performance of their contractual duties or terminate a contract, the invoking party must give notice to the affected party under the contract as soon as possible after the force majeure event occurs. This notice will generally be met with a response from the affected party questioning the forseeability of the force majeure event and whether the performance of the contract duties are truly impossible.
Invoking a force majeure clause to terminate a contract is an inherently factual question which will be decided by the specific facts and circumstances surrounding the transaction and the parties to each contract. Invoking a force majeure clause may require a third-party decision maker such as a mediator, arbitrator or judge to determine if the terms of the force majeure clause are applicable to the situation.
Unless the facts of the situation clearly and specifically match the force majeure requirements in the contract, and the other requirements to enforce a force majeure clause under state laws are not in dispute between the contracting parties, invoking a force majeure clause to terminate a contract may not be the most effective or economical method to terminate the contract during the current COVID-19 pandemic.


Legal Readiness to Attract Climate Finance: Towards a Low-Carbon Asia and the Pacific
The Parties to the Paris Agreement have made ambitious commitments to combat climate change - both in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and climate resilience targets as well as financial targets. In their Nationally Determined Contributions, most developing countries have made their commitments conditional on receiving international financial support. Developed countries and international organisations, in turn, have responded by offering various types of capacity development support. However, not enough attention has been paid to assessing the legal frameworks of the developing countries to identify legal barriers and opportunities for legal modernisation to optimise options for climate finance to fund their Nationally Determined Contributions. This article highlights some of these legal barriers and showcases examples from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic1 and the Republic of Fiji where the countries have embarked on legal modernisation


Source: Cruise Market Watch. Note: Excursions only cover those organized by the cruise line. Note: 2018 figures; financial breakdown of typical cruiser worldwide (across all cruise lines); average cruise duration: 8.0 days; median duration: 7.0 days.
While in 2018, the average revenue was about $1,791 per cruiser, the associated expenses were $1,562, implying a profit margin in the range of 12-13%. At the beginning of the decade, these percentages stood at 77% ($1.663) and 23% ($1.485), respectively, a clear indication that the upgrade of the amenities onboard provides higher yields to cruise lines. The breakdown of revenues and expenses has the following characteristics:
Revenue. The base fare paid by the average cruiser accounts for 72% of the revenue, implying that cruise lines are able to generate an additional 28% revenue tranche with onboard services, such as gambling, excursions, drinks, and personal services. Additionally, cruisers are spending on goods and services at ports of call, which are not accounted for here. Expenses. The main expenses related to the ship operations, which include port fees and taxes (often levied per cruiser), ship maintenance, fuel (12%), payroll (13%), food & beverages, and the provision of onboard services. A standard cruise package includes food services as well as onboard services such as shows. Since the booking of ships is a marketing-intensive activity involving advertisement, agent commissions account for a notable share of expenses (15%). Cruise ships are capital intensive (a ship carrying 3,500 passengers costs more than $800 million), with approximately 15% of the expenses related to servicing the debt contracted for their purchase.


The financial services sector is one of the largest and most dynamic markets in the global economy. The competitive environment is fierce. Firms are perpetually faced with challenges around maintaining differentiation, regulatory pressure, and high costs of adopting and integrating rapidly evolving technology.
Financial products and services rely on data, making it critical to access and utilize. But not all data is created equally or integrated and analyzed effectively. Therefore, the typical path to developing data-driven approaches can be costly, time-consuming, and complex, inhibiting a firm’s interest and ability to pursue such strategies.
We work closely with subject matter experts to appropriately contextualize data. This results in the ability to automate and augment your data extraction and collection efforts, accurately and efficiently, regardless of source or format. Using our AI-empowered tools and capabilities, Bintel supports activities such as document management, claims processing, asset pricing and valuation, partnership and fund servicing, audit preparation, and performance or financial reporting.
Data can appear as numerical or take the form of text that can be valuable sources of information. Whatever the format, Bintel has decades of experience working with text and language, drawing meaningful insights from written documents, websites, libraries, and catalogs.
Solving Your Data Problems
Access to data can be a laborious and costly endeavor, often carried out manually. The risk of error in these operations is high, threatening the overall integrity of information or program effectiveness. Need assistance with relationship servicing, asset administration, back-office processing, and reporting? Let us help!


Shinobu Hayama Special Advisor (Japan-Mekong Cooperation) What excites you about the Mekong Region?
Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand have gifted me some of the most transformative journeys since my university years. Each destination has moved me in their unique ways, the warm and resilient people, the depth of their stories, the vibrant species, mountains and rivers they flow with. I carry gratitude for being welcomed into their communities, over heartfelt homemade meals in their slum to scrubbing elephants in their sanctuary. The region was also my door to sustainable tourism on a global standard through the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Conference held in Chiang Mai, now a GSTC Trainer. The region continues to inspire me around the power of travel, as a way to connect, contribute and collaborate beyond us and them. This hope is what excites me the most.
Tell us about your Background
As the Mekong and other parts of the world taught me the power of travel, the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan made this tangible even more. People flew in across borders to combine efforts, where I saw that the more diverse people collaborate, the more solutions for a sustainable region. Since then, with sustainable development and humanity as a purpose, I have been dedicated to facilitating this through consulting, designing travel to capacity-building for people across cultures and sectors. I founded Journey for Change Co., Ltd. in 2019 to offer consultation and human resource development around sustainable travel and education, integrating approaches of sustainable tourism, social innovation, and change. With a vision to further behavioral to the systematic transformation towards a positive balance of society, environment, and economy, works include supporting destinations and businesses such as world heritage sites, Japan’s national airline and stakeholders, and academia including a partnership with a graduate school bridging multidisciplinary science.
How do you want to make an impact for the region?
I believe the Mekong Region and Japan carry diverse similarities and differences in their environment, society, economy, and their people. This also means a vast opportunity to learn from each other, transform and redefine together a healthy balance. Issues of another country are not just theirs, our nature and neighborhoods are intertwined, and I believe the Mekong River is a breathing symbol of this. I am motivated to explore and discover lasting cooperation through movements of people, knowledge, and practices amongst the countries, one step each towards a collective impact.


BENGALURU: The BBMP has initiated ward-specific works in only 27 wards between April 1 and August 31, 2015, and the total value of works created during that period adds up to only Rs 81 crore.
This was the preliminary analysis by Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy’s of works initiated by the civic body in the current financial year.
Only a fraction of available funds have been allocated towards specific works and the remaining funds are available for newly elected corporators to utilise in their wards as well as for the administration to take up city-level works, stated a release from Janaagraha.
Janaagraha estimates that of the total budget of Rs 5,410 crore for the current year, over Rs 3,800 crore will be available for spending on infrastructure and services, including Rs 1,100 crore for settling pending contractor bills.
Outer Wards Neglected: According to the study, wards on the outskirts of the city were neglected with average per capita allocation in the 2015-16 BBMP budget averaging Rs 715. However, the inner wards received a significantly higher per capita allocation averaging Rs 1,131.
“Some of the largest outer wards such as Bellandur, Horamavu and Byatarayanapura, with population exceeding 70,000 each, have received lower than average budget allocations pointing to a continued apathy towards these wards,” the report stated.
Generous Allocations:
Nagapura (Ward 67) in Mahalakshmi Layout Assembly constituency has received Rs 32.7 crore against the ward average of Rs 3.86 crore. Byrasandra (Ward 169) in Jayanagar Assembly segment received Rs 23.4 crore and Aramane Nagara (Ward 35) in Malleswaram got Rs 14.6 crore. Among the Assembly constituencies, Jayanagar with Rs 57 crore and Mahalakshmi Layout with Rs 51 crore top the list, the report stated.


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This Technical Brief describes promising and innovative medication-assisted treatment (MAT) models of care in primary care settings, describe barriers to MAT implementation, summarize the evidence available on MAT models of care in primary care settings, identifies gaps in the evidence base, and guides future research.View Resource
The purpose of this systematic review is to determine optimal doses, routes of administration, and dosing strategies of naloxone for suspected opioid overdose in out-of-hospital settings, and whether transport to a hospital following successful opioid overdose reversal with naloxone is necessary.View Resource
This toolkit supports a structured, team-based approach to improving the management of patients who take opioids to ease chronic pain.View Resource
Chronic pain is common, multidimensional, and individualized, and treatment can be challenging for healthcare providers as well as patients. In response to the critical need for consistent and current opioid prescribing guidelines, the CDC released the Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain.View Resource
This guideline provides recommendations for primary care clinicians who are prescribing opioids for chronic pain outside of active cancer treatment, palliative care, and end-of-life care among adult patients.View Resource
This brief discusses effective prevention and treatment strategies for opioid misuse and addiction.View Resource
This brief provides guidelines on prescribing Opioids for Pain.View Resource
The AHRQ academy, which is a national resource for integrating behavioral health and primary care, offers guidance on how to integrate behavioral health and medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder into primary care or other ambulatory care settings to improve healthcare delivery and to achieve better patient outcomes.View Resource
This CDC document consists of evidence-based strategies to reduce overdose including naloxone distribution and medication-assisted therapy. It aims to assist community leaders, local and regional organizers, non-profit groups, law enforcement, public health, and members of the public in understanding and navigating effective strategies.View Resource
This fact sheet developed by CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) helps employers understand the risk of opioid overdose and allows them to decide if they should establish a workplace naloxone availability and use program.View Resource


Between skill gaps and a general talent shortage, companies are increasingly difficult to find the employees they need to thrive. While the situation can seem dire, that doesn’t mean organizations can’t take steps to stay on target.
By using the right hiring approach, securing top talent becomes easier. If you aren’t sure where to begin, here are some candidate sourcing strategies that can help.
Hire for Trainability
In many cases, companies try to find every skill they need when finding candidates to fill a vacant position. The issue is, this approach is incredibly rigid.
Often, if a job seeker doesn’t have every skill listed in the job ad, they get removed from contention before they’ve even had a chance to meet with the hiring manager. As a result, companies miss out on candidates with exceptional potential because they didn’t tick every box right from the beginning.
By using a different strategy, companies can increase their access to exceptional talent. Instead of looking for candidates who have every skill that could be needed in the role, focus on capabilities they genuinely need on day one. Then, seek out job seekers who are trainable.
When a candidate has a willingness to learn and passion for the field, they can typically be molded into your ideal employee. Those kinds of job seekers jump at the opportunity to grow and develop, making them a perfect choice for companies willing to train to close skill gaps and cultivate their ideal team.
Launch a Referral Program
One of your best recruitment resources is your current workforce. Your employees understand what it takes to excel in various positions. Additionally, they have first-hand experience with your company culture. Finally, they often have robust networks of professionals, at least some of which are likely open to new opportunities.
Launching a referral program creates a space where employees can directly refer people from their network. Since they know your company, the odds that any referred job seeker will be a strong match go up. Plus, most professionals won’t put their name on the line for someone they don’t value and trust. As a result, you’ll typically access a higher-quality candidate with referrals, too.
Partner With a Staffing Firm
When you need to fill a vacant position quickly, partnering with a staffing firm is your best move. Recruitment agencies maintain robust talent pools brimming with highly skilled professionals. Plus, they handle all initial screening activities, saving your company a substantial amount of time.
Along with their existing talent pool, staffing firms also know where to look to find niche skills. Finally, they’re incredibly adept at engaging with job seekers, elevating the candidate experience.
If you need to fill a vacant position fast, the skilled team at The Advance Group wants to hear from you. Contact us to speak with one of our experienced recruiters today and see how our services can be your ideal solution during a talent shortage.


NotiSphere enables streamlined communications between providers and suppliers, reducing time required to manage and respond to recall events, and streamlining medical recalls. Vizient is the largest member-driven health care performance improvement company in the U.S.
The NotiSphere recall management solution, which was designated an Innovative Technology by a Vizient member-led council, eliminates the need for repetitive paper communications by delivering real-time medical supply recall alerts directly to the process owner at the provider site.
The use of NotiSphere aims to ensure that relevant information is sent only to those impacted, significantly reducing the time-to-provider notification and improving the reliability and accuracy of the information received.
By ensuring the first notification goes to the correct person immediately and allowing two-way communications, NotiSphere increases recall response rates and increases patient safety while lowering the cost of this process for suppliers.
“I have been talking to suppliers and providers for years and the recall process has always been something of a challenge. With the number of recalled units at an all-time high, it has become an even greater challenge,” says Guillermo Ramas, founder and CEO of NotiSphere. “The focus of a recall is always on patient safety, which is appropriate. But my thought was – how can we better leverage technology to solve this problem? This agreement with Vizient offers a unique opportunity to drive adoption of an electronic solution that can potentially enable a rapid transformation of the industry.”


This rapid growth and tolerance for marginal land, make bamboo a good candidate for afforestation, carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation. Bamboo is versatile and has notable economic and cultural significance in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia, being used for building materials, as a food source, and as a raw product, and depicted often in arts, such as in bamboo paintings and bambooworking.
http://www.vekoo-bamboocraft.com/bamboo-chair/


Sci/Tech Nation, based on data from a Future Markets Insights Global Analysis, reports that due to rising healthcare costs and the high price of medical devices, the demand for reprocessed medical devices is expected to witness high growth over the forecast period of 2017-2027.
The low price of the reprocessed devices is a major factor responsible for the rising demand of the reprocessed medical devices: reprocessed medical devices cost nearly 30% – 40% less as compared to new devices. Hospitals are the largest consumer segment of the reprocessed medical devices. The adoption rate of the reprocessed medical devices is witnessing significant increase among the hospitals a result of an increasing number of hospitals operating under limited budgets and long term cost efficacy. For instance, in the U.S. there are nearly 3,000 hospitals with medical device reprocessing programs.
The global reprocessed medical devices market is expected to witness robust growth over the forecast period owing to an emphasis on reduction of medical waste.
North America is expected to be the largest maker of reprocessed medical devices followed by Western Europe. For more information on the report, Read More.


It goes without saying that the crypto market is rife with wishy-washy investors. Some days, one might be overly bullish, quipping that Bitcoin (BTC) could skyrocket to the so-called “moon.” Other days, he or she might remark that the end is nigh for the flagship cryptocurrency. While vapid industry participants are a dime a dozen, what’s hard to find are cryptocurrency zealots that would put their reputation on the line for this sector.
Barry Silbert, a former Wall Street investor turned the fervent leader of the industry’s largest conglomerate, did just that on Wednesday, explaining that in his eyes, Bitcoin is the best place that it has ever been in.
He joins the Winklevoss Twins, Tim Draper, Mike Novogratz, among other long-term believers that have only doubled-down on their cryptocurrency dreams amid the fittingly-named “nuclear winter.” It seems that they have yet to get gashed by the blood-thirsty bears.
Bitcoin Still Has The King’s Crown
In a phone interview with CNBC, Barry Silbert, the chief executive of Digital Currency Group, claimed that he’s personally more bullish on Bitcoin than ever before. The long-standing industry professional, who dropped his stint at SecondMarket to dive into the cryptosphere, explained that while BTC is “really ugly” from a technical perspective, its underlying value is as relevant as ever.
Like Trace Mayer and BitMEX’s research team, who believe that BTC could be a hedge in precarious macroeconomy movements, Silbert noted that Bitcoin has already won the digital gold race. He explained that when millennials are clamoring for a store of value, they’ll turn to the cryptocurrency, not gold. The Digital Currency Group founder even commented that the money that is currently in gold will eventually flock to Bitcoin, especially due to the asset’s digital, decentralized, secure, and non-sovereign characteristics.
This comes after Travis Kling of Ikigai remarked that Bitcoin is much like a credit default swap (CDS), the financial instrument that catalyzed 2008’s Great Recession, against government spending and the incessant printing of fiat currencies.
From a broader standpoint, Silbert touched on the fact that institutional investors are still preparing to delve into this space, classifying this factor as something bullish for Bitcoin, not crypto assets at large. The DCG head drew attention to the growth of institutional-centric infrastructure, noting that products like Fidelity’s crypto custodian and Bakkt’s futures only accentuate that bigwig firms are poised to make investments in Bitcoin.
And with all that in mind, Silbert concluded that as it stands, he’d be careful in choosing allocations into alternative cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. He explained that from his point of view, a “vast majority of digital tokens” could eventually be valued at all but nothing. This is odd, especially considering his firms’ positions in blockchain upstarts and assets like ZCash and Ethereum Classic. But Silbert was adamant in touting this investment thesis, remarking that:
“Almost every ICO was just an attempt to raise money but there was no use for the underlying token… The vast majority of what’s out there will be eliminated.”
Crypto Insiders Wary Of Altcoins’ Long-Term Fate
Silbert’s harrowing comment regarding the prospects (or lack thereof) that alternative cryptocurrencies have in their back pocket interestingly isn’t the first of its kind. Far from.
Just days prior to the Digital Currency Group head’s interview with CNBC, Matt Hougan, the head of research at Bitcoin ETF hopeful Bitwise Asset Management, took to a Bloomberg podcast to talk cryptocurrencies. In the podcast, hosted by Barry Ritholtz, Hougan remarked that 95% of the 2,000 cryptocurrencies listed on CoinMarketCap will die a “painful and deserved death.”
Bitcoin educator Jimmy Song made a similar comment, explaining that for the most part, initial coin offerings have “simply not delivered,” even noting that much of the use cases touted by blockchain startups will never come to fruition.
Even Brad Garlinghouse of Ripple, who has been hesitant to comment on other cryptocurrencies historically, noted that the only reason why many digital assets have survived 2018’s meltdown was due to speculators propensity to play “a dangerous game.” Thus, Garlinghouse determined that if market conditions change, “well over” 90% of projects could bite the dust as investors flock for assets with long-standing, notable track records.


The
WFE has published its annual WFE IOMA Derivatives Market Report which shows the total volume of derivatives traded in 2017 declined by 0.2%.
Stock markets worldwide and the global economy ended 2017 on a strong note. Benchmark market indices soared to record-high levels across many markets. There was a synchronised recovery in growth rates of GDP, low levels of inflation, low market volatility, a continuation of accommodative monetary policy in many regions, and a recovery in commodity prices. The report focused on trends in derivatives markets against this backdrop, and examined how market participants have responded to shifts in the underlying market.
You can download the full report here.
Key highlights of the report: Derivative volumes were down slightly (0.2%) on 2016 with a total of 25.0 billion contracts traded. This was made up of 10.5 billion options and 14.5 billion futures. An increase in the volume traded in the Americas (up 5.8%) was offset by declines in Asia-Pacific and EMEA (down 3.5% and 5.3%) respectively. While volumes of equity and interest rate derivatives increased on 2016 (up 5.4% and 13.1%), volumes of currency, commodity and other derivatives were down 3.2%, 14.5% and 4.3% respectively on 2016. Over 3.9 billion interest rate derivative contracts were traded in 2017 - the largest number in the time-period examined (since 2005). The fall in volumes of commodity derivatives traded was the first year-on-year decline in volumes in the 13-year period under review, and was driven by falls in volumes traded of agriculture and non-precious metals derivatives. As total volumes traded in 2017 were largely in line with 2016, the overall share of volumes traded has shifted with equity and interest rate derivatives now making up 48% and 16% of the total respectively, and commodity derivatives accounting for 24%. Asset breakdown for 2017: Equity derivatives remained the most actively traded exchange traded derivative product category, at 48% of total volumes, but this was the second consecutive year in which they accounted for less than 50% of the total derivatives volume traded. While in the Americas and Asia-Pacific regions (where nearly 80% of equity derivatives volumes are traded) the numbers of contracts traded were up 2.4% and 23.9% respectively, there was a 10.9% decline in the volumes traded in the EMEA region. Interest rate derivatives accounted for 16% of total derivatives contracts traded in 2017, with over 3.9 billion contracts traded in 2017. This was the largest number of interest rate derivatives contracts traded in the time period examined (since 2005). Volumes traded were up 13.1% on 2016 driven by increases in volumes of both STIR and LTIR options and futures. The Americas and EMEA regions, which accounted for nearly 94% of total interest rate derivatives volumes, saw an 11.7% and 18% increase in number of contracts on 2016. Currency derivatives volumes traded (11% of the total derivatives volume traded) fell by 3.2% vs 2016, largely due to a 19.9% drop in the volumes traded in the EMEA region, which accounts for 32% of total volumes. The Americas and Asia-Pacific saw an uptick in volumes traded, up 18.8% and 3.8% respectively on 2016. Commodity derivatives saw a year-on-year decline in volumes traded, down 14.5% on 2016, for the first time in the period under review. This was due to a sharp fall in the Asia-Pacific region (down 25.3%) where 56% of the volumes were traded. The Americas and EMEA regions recorded increases in volumes traded (up 3.5% and 6% respectively). However, commodity derivatives remain the second most actively traded product type, accounting for 24% of total exchange traded derivatives volumes. Other derivatives in the survey included index volatility options and futures, REIT derivatives, dividend index derivatives, CFDs, and inflation indexed futures and options. Volumes in this category dropped by 4.3% on 2016, driven by the decline in volumes traded on Johannesburg Stock Exchange and Japan Exchange Group – down 36% and 6% respectively on 2016.
Forty-eight exchanges responded to the survey, a mixture of WFE members, affiliates and other exchanges that voluntarily submit data. The report covers the period from January to December 2017.


The earnings and employment outcomes of the 2005 cohort of Canadian postsecondary graduates with disabilities
Canada’s fear of future skill and labor shortages has brought youth with disabilities to the forefront of public policy. Many universities are now reporting that an increased proportion of their graduating students identify as having a disability, and as a result, educational achievement‐based programs designed to accommodate students’ needs are growing across campuses. Despite recent attention by policymakers on improving accessibility standards and increasing employer incentives, young Canadians with disabilities continue to face barriers in their transitions to the workforce. The nature and extent of the early workforce inequalities faced by postsecondary graduates with disabilities remains unclear. This paper draws on the 2005 cohort of Statistics Canada’s National Graduates Survey to examine the early workforce outcomes of postsecondary graduates with disabilities. Contrary to theories of human capital, the results reveal significant earnings gaps between graduates with and without disabilities of various fields of study and levels of schooling. Further, graduates with a disability are even more disadvantaged in terms of securing employment, as they were significantly less likely to be employed full‐time, and were overrepresented among unemployed and part‐time workers across various fields of study and levels of postsecondary education.


Uittreksel
Rose is the most economically important ornamental plant. However, cold stress seriously affects the survival and regrowth of garden roses in northern regions. Cold acclimation was studied using two genotypes (Rosa wichurana and R. hybrida ‘Yesterday’) selected from a rose breeding program. During the winter season (November to April), the cold hardiness of stems, soluble sugar content, and expression of dehydrins and the related key genes in the soluble sugar metabolism were analyzed. ‘Yesterday’ is more cold-hardy and acclimated faster, reaching its maximum cold hardiness in December. R. wichurana is relatively less cold-hardy, only reaching its maximum cold hardiness in January after prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures. Dehydrin transcripts accumulated significantly during November–January in both genotypes. Soluble sugars are highly involved in cold acclimation, with sucrose and oligosaccharides significantly correlated with cold hardiness. Sucrose occupied the highest proportion of total soluble sugars in both genotypes. During November–January, downregulation of RhSUS was found in both genotypes, while upregulation of RhSPS was observed in ‘Yesterday’ and upregulation of RhINV2 was found in R. wichurana. Oligosaccharides accumulated from November to February and decreased to a significantly low level in April. RhRS6 had a significant upregulation in December in R. wichurana. This study provides insight into the cold acclimation mechanism of roses by combining transcription patterns with metabolite quantification


Abstract
A double-blind controlled Ca supplementation trial was conducted for 6 months in thirty-four 7-year-old Chinese children from Hongkong and Jiangmen, China. The children were randomly allocated to the study group (n 17) or control group (n 17), and a CaCO3 tablet (300 mg Ca) or a placebo tablet was taken daily. True fractional Ca absorption (TFCA) was evaluated before and after the trial using stable isotopes: 8 mg 44Ca mixed in 100 g chocolate milk was given after an intravenous injection of 0.75 mg 42Ca. There was no significant difference in baseline TFCA between the study group (60.6 (SD 11.4)%) and the controls (58.2 (SD 9.0)%; P = 0.55). Serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol levels were comparable between the two groups (P = 0.71). After 6 months, TFCA of the study group (55.6 (SD 12.7)%) was significantly lower than that of the controls (64.3 (SD 10.7)%; P = 0.015). By comparing the individual changes in TFCA after the trial between the two groups there was a non-significant reduction in TFCA (5.03 (SD 12.4)%; P = 0.11, Wilcoxon signed-rank test) in the study group (60.6-55.6%), whereas a significant increase in TFCA (6.17 (SD 7.7)%; P = 0.004, Wilcoxon signed-rank test) was observed in the controls (58.2-64.3%). The differential in TFCA between the two groups after 6 months was significantly different (P = 0.001), and remained significant after adjustment for baseline dietary intakes, weight and height by multiple-regression analysis (P = 0.003). If the mechanism of TFCA from chocolate milk in response to the treatment effects is similar to that from the total diet, then our results suggest that children with adequate vitamin D status can adapt to a change in Ca intake by adjusting the efficiency of TFCA. In corollary, children on habitually-low Ca diets have a higher TFCA than the counterparts with higher Ca diets.
Keywords Calcium Calcium Isotopes Calcium, Dietary Child China Double-Blind Method Female Hong Kong Humans Intestinal Absorption Male Mass Spectrometry Prospective Studies


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Amin Rajan: You claim that so-called liquid assets are not as liquid as investors think. If anything, liquidity is in the eye of the beholder. Can you develop this surprising thesis? Pascal Blancque: Liquidity is influenced by the ability and willingness to trade. The capacity depends on the monetary resources available to investors. Willpower, in turn, is influenced by the powerful forces of time, memory and forgetting, which ensure that investors are overly influenced by their past experiences. Subjectivity means that liquidity is anything but static. And labeling assets as “liquid” or “illiquid” is, at the very least, a misnomer, if not outright a bad sell.
AR: Why do psychological forces play such an important role in liquidity dynamics? DB: Our daily economic life is determined by commerce and transactions. It follows that, for anything to be liquid, there must be a willingness to exchange. People form expectations and discount the future in the same way that they remember and forget the past.
For example, market participants today still have vivid memories of the “liquidity crunch” that marked the 2008 financial crisis. vicious that could dry up the market. Liquidity is also a monetary process involving the exchange of money, ensuring that monetary and psychological factors determine the amount of liquidity in circulation.
AR: This brings me to a long-standing economic debate. Neoclassicals argue that the value of an asset is influenced only by its fundamentals. As such, they come before liquidity, as stated in modern portfolio theory. New Keynesians think it’s the other way around. Why are these two points of view so diametrically opposed? DB: In the neoclassical approach, individuals establish value through utility – their personal preferences – independent of the market, and liquidity follows passively. So, value drives liquidity, because everything is deemed to be fully liquid. In the New Keynesian approach, the reverse is true: liquidity precedes and reflects value. Here, liquidity takes the form of transactions that generate self-referential prices. Both have limits. In the first case, value is entirely attributable to utility; the second lacks a fundamental theory of value.
It is important to overcome these limitations and integrate them into a unified theory. In particular, I see liquidity as a point of contact with the world, with a strong psychological dimension. Liquidity reveals value through prices, which are simply discrete “moments” of value in an ongoing process. In this sense, liquidity does not precede value, but rather trade unveils value at different “moments of liquidity”. In the extreme, it becomes impossible to create value in the event of a liquidity crisis in the absence of buyers.
AR: The implication is that the commonly held distinction between ‘liquid’ and ‘illiquid’ markets is illusory, so how can investors slice the liquidity profiles of their so-called ‘liquid’ assets? DB: The illusion can, and often does, break with changes in the environment, market infrastructure, psychological benchmarks, and market narratives. A central bank policy error leading to a deep recession could be one such trigger. Therefore, in the current environment, the assessment of liquidity must be at the forefront of investors’ concerns.
Memories of past liquidity environments will continue to influence investors, and they should be aware of this when slicing the liquidity profiles of their portfolios. There is no guarantee that a seemingly liquid market will be built on solid valuation foundations, as evidenced by the regular formation of bubbles. The proposition that “the higher the total illiquidity, the higher the premium” is misleading, as it relies on the assumption that value precedes liquidity. Therefore, investors should consider liquidity at the total portfolio level as a key dimension of risk.
Five key suggestions Include liquidity considerations in asset allocation and consider increasing the share of high quality liquid bonds as a liquidity buffer. Avoid bunching up in crowded trades and consider the dimension of liquidity when selecting investment ideas. Avoid investments with excessive leverage. Assess the liquidity risk processes of internal and external managers. Exploit the opportunities of assets carrying significant liquidity premiums when they arise.
AR: You identify paradoxes. Two of them are relevant for investing in retirement plans. The first is that, like diversification, liquidity is notable for its absence when it is most needed, such as in a bear market. Why is liquidity disappearing and causing market turmoil that hurts investors’ portfolios? DB: This is a challenge for investors, especially in the aftermath of the financial crisis. The belief that the benign liquidity conditions of a normal market environment will persist could lead to a lack of preparedness for future shocks. The abundant macroliquidity conditions of the past decades have lulled investors into a false sense of security. While the current excessive monetary policy tightening indicates that future market liquidity will be weaker, most market participants seem to ignore the reality.
For example, market segments characterized by crowded leveraged trading are potentially subject to liquidity events and drains. To some extent, the market corrections in the first half of 2022 helped eliminate some market excesses at a time when the risk of recession was not on the horizon. This can be useful to reduce the number of crowded areas. The situation is further complicated by a fragile economic outlook; however, not all market segments are equal and understanding the dynamics of liquidity in times of crisis is not easy given the multitude of players involved and the diversity of their experiences.
AR: The second key paradox is that despite abundant liquidity throughout the system, there have been instances of severe liquidity shortages in individual market segments. This has been evidenced by risk/off-risk trading over the past decade. What has prevented macro-level liquidity from flowing into micro-markets, as expected? DB: When macroliquidity deteriorates, as is currently the case, microliquidity deteriorates even more. Confusion between them may mean investors are underestimating potential liquidity issues.
Macro-liquidity has strong macroeconomic characteristics that are linked to monetary aggregates such as the monetary base and central bank balance sheets. Micro-liquidity, on the other hand, refers to the market. It is defined as the ability to trade a large order on a given financial instrument without generating a significant price impact.
AR: Like other risks, liquidity cannot be diversified. Yet, as you imply, it gives oxygen to the markets. How can retirement investors incorporate liquidity filters into their asset allocation without making it too complex? Is it justified to treat liquidity, alongside risk and return, as a third pillar of portfolio construction? DB: Yes, the traditional risk-return framework is insufficient. Investors should consider adding a third dimension – liquidity – to their valuations, particularly in fixed income securities. This is crucial for mitigating liquidity risk, while tactically taking advantage of market opportunities. Liquidity is not only a defensive tool, it is also a vector of diversification because it is not perfectly correlated with the other risks of the portfolio.
We are now in an end-of-cycle phase, characterized by imminent recessionary risks. In such an environment, market sentiment becomes more fragile, especially as geopolitical uncertainty remains high. Liquidity strains will no doubt intensify future corrections when the economic cycle turns into a recession.
Pascal Blanqué is President of the Amundi Institute and Amin Rajan is CEO of CREATE-Research. Both are members of Club 300
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Description
FLORA SB is a health promoting probiotic yeast. To be an effective probiotic, microorganisms must have certain qualities to withstand the natural defense factors of the host. These include resistance to gastrointestinal (GI) transit and the ability to thrive at human core temperatures. FLORA SB is a stomach acid-resistant probiotic, proven to survive high temperatures and transit into the intestines. As a probiotic,
S. boulardiiactively promotes healthy gastrointestinal flora, strengthens intestinal barrier function, and enhances immune function. This formulation of FLORA SB is freeze-dried, lactose-free, and strain-verified through genetic typing to ensure maximum efficacy.


On June 17, jury selection concluded in the trial of a hedge-fund trader accused of multiple white-collar crimes. The trial is scheduled to begin on June 18 in a Manhattan federal court.
The trader, a 43-year-old man, faces charges of securities fraud and conspiracy to commit insider trading. The charges stem from the man’s alleged use of insider tips received from his brother, a billionaire hedge-fund manager who is currently serving a prison sentence for similar white-collar crimes. According to authorities, the jury consists of five men and seven women with diverse backgrounds.
Moreover, authorities reported that prosecutors won a significant victory in the case when they gained permission to play several of the telephone wiretaps that led to the conviction of the 43-year-old man’s brother. Allegedly, authorities had obtained some 45 court-authorized wiretaps on phone calls relevant to the case of the 43-year-old man’s brother, and several of the phone calls were between the two brothers.
If convicted, the 43-year-old man may face significant jail time. Penalties for these types of white-collar crimes can be severe. A conviction on each count of securities fraud carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years, and a conviction on the conspiracy to commit insider trading charge could result in a maximum of five years in prison. The 43-year-old man’s brother is already serving an 11-year prison sentence for his white-collar convictions.
It is important to remember that people accused of all crimes, including white-collar crimes, are innocent until proven guilty, and that the prosecutors must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt to obtain a conviction. For this reason, people accused of white-collar crimes often retain a criminal defense attorney to help mount an aggressive and multi-pronged defense that raises doubt concerning the prosecution’s case.
Source: Bloomberg, “Rengan Rajaratnam’s Jury Picked to Decide Insider Case“, Patricia Hurtado, June 17, 2014


For those of us who struggle to fall and stay asleep, taking this supplement may make a significant difference. Sleep (previously Sleep Balance) by Nedley Health consists of a natural blend of hops flower extract, magnolia bark extract, melatonin, L-theanine, and L-ornithine. Take it right before bedtime and experience the relaxing and calming effect it can have on your mind.
Directions:
Take 1-4 capsules before bedtime.
This product may assist in improved rest, relaxation, sleep, feeling calm, next day alertness, focus and energy.*
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Ingredients:
Serving Size: 2 Capsules
Servings Per Container: 30 Supplement Facts: L-Theanine 400 mg L-Ornithine HC1 400 mg Magnolia Bark Extract 200 mg Hops Flower Extract 50 mg Melatonin 3 mg Other Ingredients: Hypromellose Capsule, Rice Flour, and Magnesium Stearate.


Estate planning is a conundrum all parents struggle with to ensure their children and loved ones are financially secure. Those with grandchildren and large families need to plan their estate diligently to ensure equal distribution of assets. Trust funds are an efficient and reliable tool to plan your estate with the assistance of a neutral third-party executor.
Trust funds are a versatile estate planning instrument that designates a legal authority to hold assets or money for an individual or organization. Trusts funds are viable for various assets, including real estate, money, a company, stocks, bonds, and shares. It can also hold assets, such as money, real properties, and businesses.
Establishing a trust fund involves three parties: the trustee, beneficiary, and grantor. All three parties must comply with the legal stipulations of the trust fund. Why do people and organizations choose trust funds over other estate planning tools? Several benefits make trust funds highly advantageous, such as tax benefits, financial support, and protections.
Keep reading to learn more about the long-term legal benefits of establishing a trust fund.
Trust Funds: How do they work?
It’s crucial to learn how trust funds work to understand their legal benefits and drawbacks.
The underlying goal of estate planning is to ensure your financial affairs and assets are distributed according to your wishes. Most people write wills and appoint executors to run their estates and distribute their wealth amongst their dependents. However, trust funds are a more popular and versatile tool to entrust your legal and financial interests to a reliable trustee.
A trust fund can hold anything, including wealth, residential and commercial properties, artwork, debt, life insurance, etc. The grantor, individuals who set up a trust fund, chooses beneficiaries who will receive their assets and wealth. Grantors appoint a neutral third party, the trustee, to manage and distribute their assets populated in the trust.
Attorneys, trust banks, reliable employees, financial experts, and reputable family members serve as trustees in most cases. The fundamental requirement is to ensure neutrality and prevent the trustee from exploiting the trust fund stipulations and distributing assets unfairly. This arrangement ensures that the grantor’s assets and financial affairs are well-managed after they die or become mentally challenged.
The trustee, serving as the designated fiduciary, is responsible for executing the trust fund’s stipulation following the grantor’s directions. The stipulations include living expenses, private school funds, college tuition, and medical care funds in most cases. The trust fund can also distribute a lump sum amount amongst the beneficiaries after they reach a certain age.
Why Choose Trust Funds?
Why do people choose trust funds over other estate planning instruments? Trust funds provide a vast host of financial protections and tax benefits for the grantors and beneficiaries. First and foremost, creditors cannot access assets within the trust fund should they decide to claim the grantor’s unpaid debts. Secondly, trust funds provide legal security and prevent the hassle of going through lengthy probate proceedings.
Probate is a legal process of asset distribution if an individual dies without leaving detailed legal instructions in their will. Trust funds are also preferred because of the deductions in estate and inheritance taxes typically charged after asset distribution. Beneficiaries are liable to pay inheritance taxes on the property or wealth they inherit. And estate taxes are applied on the total value of the grantor’s estate.
Are Trust Funds only for Multi-Millionaires? Gossip Girls and other TV shows depicting the lives of the ultra-rich would have us believe that trust funds only serve the elite. That’s not true. A trust fund can benefit anyone, regardless of how much wealth or assets they own. It all boils down to how you want to manage your money and assets to secure your dependents and beneficiaries. § Financial Security Blanket for Loved Ones
Suppose you have a child with special needs or your spouse has a mental disability. In that case, establishing a special needs trust fund will ensure they get quality care and financial support after your death. A special needs trust will cover all expenses that aren’t covered by insurance of public health benefits.
This arrangement allows beneficiaries to access their trust fund benefits without getting disqualified for public benefits programs. They can access benefits like Medicaid, Medicare, and social security payments to supplement their income.
You can establish a special needs trust for your parents, siblings, spouse, children, or other family members.
The Trust Fund will secure your future and if you have remote employees in your business, do not forget to submit a non-employee compensation (NEC) form to the IRS every year. Otherwise, you will have to pay a fine. You can easily download the PDF by generating the online form with the 1099-NEC generator. It will protect you from the tax authorities. Moreover, it will help the employees to solve their banking problems. This means that if you have freelance or remote staff in your organization, be careful about NEC and also encourage them to trust funds.
§ Managing Senior Care & Life Quality
There’s a common misconception that trust funds serve grantors only after their death. The rising population of aging baby boomers has introduced trust funds as an efficient tool for planning senior care. Seniors can consider trust funds as a retirement planning tool to detail their medical needs and life quality stipulations.
In a care management trust, the grantor is also the beneficiary, and a trustee makes decisions when the grantor is mentally incapacitated. The trustee will carry out the wishes detailed by the grantor, ensuring future care and financial independence. For instance, the grantor can join an assisted living facility or reside in their own property with at-home care.
A care management trust will ensure that your family members and caregivers cannot disrespect or second-guess your plans. Only the trustee of your care trust will have the decision-making authority to execute your wishes.
§ A Nest Egg for Minors or Grandchildren
Are you worried about leaving minor children in financial and legal complications after your death? Or perhaps you want to create a sizable nest egg to fund your grandchildren’s college and travel dreams? Either way, a trust fund is the best inheritance management tool for children who cannot make financial and legal decisions.
You can lay down specific instructions, including details on monthly and yearly income management, property management, business operations, and more. A trust fund is a viable solution when distributing assets between several minor children or grandchildren.
Final Thoughts
It’s wise to sit down with financial and legal experts to analyze how a trust fund will serve your interests.
Trust funds aren’t limited to wealthy investors and executives with millions of dollars to distribute, as we’ve discovered above. Anyone can set up a trust fund to ensure their legal interests and loved ones are looked after as instructed.
Krishna Murthy is the senior publisher at Finance XOD. He is not only the senior publisher but also the owner of Tricky Finance. Krishna Murthy was one of the brilliant students during his college days. He completed his education in MBA (Master of Business Administration), and he is currently managing the all workload for sharing the best banking information over the internet. The main purpose of starting Tricky Finance is to provide all the precious information related to businesses and the banks to his readers.


Australian health authorities have recommended against getting a fifth COVID-19 vaccine shot, even as they urged those eligible to sign up for their remaining booster doses as the country’s latest COVID wave grows rapidly.
While announcing new vaccination recommendations at a press conference on Tuesday, the country’s health minister, Mark Butler said the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisations (Atagi) had recommended against a fifth dose, or third booster, after evidence from Singapore’s recent wave showed that severe illness and death were rare among the vaccinated and that a fifth shot had minimal impact on virus transmission.
Butler revealed that average daily cases but cases remain 85% below the previous peak, of late July.
According to Butler, “They (Atagi) noted that severe disease and death during that wave in Singapore was very rare for people who had had at least two doses of vaccine for Covid.”
Butler also had said he accepted Atagi recommendations that Pfizer’s Omicron-specific vaccine be approved as a booster dose for adults; 4.7 million doses will arrive ahead of a rollout due to begin on Dec 12.
He further disclosed that new booster recommendations will be made early 2023 ahead of the southern-hemisphere winter.
Butler urged those yet to get the recommended number of shots to do so, with 5.5 million Australians, roughly a fifth of the population, yet to receive a third dose despite being eligible.


The Construction Capacity Framework (CCF) provides a structured approach to understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the construction industry in developing countries to help identify areas that could be strengthened to enable more effective infrastructure delivery and development outcomes.
Global investment in infrastructure assets is expected to double between 2015 and 20303, with the greatest need in developing countries seeking to remove existing constraints to growth, respond to the pressures of urbanisation and encourage inclusivity. Supported by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the Infrastructure and Cities for Economic Development (ICED) facility recognises the significant and complex challenges faced by developing countries in strengthening their construction industries and has developed the CCF to support this process. ICED have made the CCF a publicly available framework and would strongly encourage others to adopt this approach to identify opportunities for strengthening the capacity of construction industries in developing countries.


Given the significant role of forests in local livelihoods (Angelsen, 2011; Chao, 2012), understanding the relationship between mitigation and adaptation activities and forest-based communities is vital. Failure to consider mitigation and adaptation in the context of forests and forest based communities may result in an undermining of sustainable forestry practices and a loss of rights and livelihoods among vulnerable communities. Exploring the role of forests for mitigation, adaptation, and livelihoods can identify potential synergies and trade-offs.


Testifying before the House Financial Services Committee today, Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael Hsu said that the OCC needs to determine how to charter fintech firms in a “safe and sound way, where we can adapt to the innovation.”
“Some are concerned that providing charters to fintechs will convey the benefits of banking without its responsibilities,” Hsu said. “Others are concerned that refusing to charter fintechs will encourage growth of another shadow banking system outside the reach of regulators. I share both of these concerns. We must find a way to consider how fintechs and payment platforms fit into the banking system, and we must do it in coordination with the FDIC, Federal Reserve, and the states.”
The OCC has been focusing on encouraging innovation through initiatives like updating the framework for chartering national banks and trust companies, Hsu said, but added that his “broader concern is that these initiatives were not done in full coordination with all stakeholders. Nor do they appear to have been part of a broader strategy related to the regulatory perimeter.”
Meanwhile, Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.) pressed FDIC Chairman Jelena McWilliams on the issue of credit union acquisitions of community banks, which have resumed after an M&A lull during the pandemic. “We always have a lot of questions when there’s an acquisition of a community bank, especially when that community bank is located in a rural area,” McWilliams responded. “My concerns have not changed.”


Autores:Heather L Colquhoun, Tiago Silva Jesus, Kelly K O’Brien, Andrea C Tricco, Adora Chui, Wasifa Zarin, Erin Lillie, Sander L Hitzig, Samantha Seaton, Lisa Engel, Shlomit Rotenberg, Sharon E Straus Ano de Publicação:2020 Journal:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 101(8), pp 1462-1469 Link:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2020.03.015
ABSTRACT ‘Objective:’ To examine the extent, scope, and methodological quality of rehabilitation scoping reviews. ‘Data Sources:’ A comprehensive list of scoping reviews conducted in the broader health field (inception to July 2014), with a further update of that list (up to February 2017) using similar methods, including searching 9 electronic databases. ‘Study Selection:’ Articles were […]
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Faculty Lunchtime Seminar (Prof. Kaz Tanaka) Date Location Description
Title: Dynamic Nature of Memory Representation and the Hippocampal Network
Abstract:
Memories are encoded through long-lasting changes in the network of the brain. These memory traces can interfere with each other and therefore lead to instability of the representations. Indeed, a previous study discovered that instability is preferentially embedded within spatial maps in memory engram cells in the hippocampus even though their activity is still functionally linked to memory-relevant behaviors (Tanaka et al., 2018). Notably, higher instability of place cells is often observed in aberrant network states caused by various factors, including aging, stress, or epileptic seizure, which cause memory impairments (e.g., Yan et al., 2003; Kim et al., 2007; Karnam et al., 2009). These studies highlight two distinct types of instability leading to the opposite outcomes of hippocampal memory. In my talk, I will introduce our unpublished studies aiming at 1) elucidation of neuronal underpinning that survives extreme plasticity yet supports memory and 2) development of a novel approach to reset the aberrant network state. These studies will provide fundamental insight into physiological and pathological instability in the neuronal network.
This seminar is open to the OIST community. Visit https://groups.oist.jp/faculty-lunch
FAO


Treatment in primary HIV infection is significantly more likely to normalise CD4:CD8 ratio
Simon Collins, HIV i-Base Starting ART in primary compared to chronic HIV infection had a significantly higher chance of getting a CD4:CD8 ratio >1.0 in a retrospective study in which individuals were their own controls.
This was a retrospective analysis by Alexander Pasternak from University of Amsterdam and colleagues of 48 people who started a temporary period of ART in primary infection (PHI) – for either 24 or 60 weeks – and who after a median time of 2.4 years off-ART, subsequently restarted treatment again during chronic HIV infection (CHI).
As would be expected, the median CD4 count was higher at baseline for the PHI compared to CHI periods: 505 (IQR: 303 to 713) vs 310 (245 to 418) cells/mm3 respectively (p< 0.0001).
However, there was no difference in the dynamics of CD4 recovery between the PHI and CHI follow-up periods with median CD4 increases of 210 cells/mm3 at week-60 for both groups (although the PHI response reached higher absolute CD4 levels).
Although there were no significant differences between the CD4:CD8 ratio in the PHI vs CHI groups at baseline (0.48 (0.25-0.80) compared to 0.36 (0.25-0.41), respectively; p>0.05), there were significantly different increases in the CD4:CD8 ratio.
By week-12 this ratio increased to 0.95 (0.74 to 1.29) compared to 0.52 (0.41 to 0.74) in the PHI vs CHI periods respectively (p< 0.0001). The differences were sustained to week-48 with 59% compared to 29% of participants achieving a CD4:CD8 ratio > 1.0 (p=0.0049) in the PHI vs CHI periods respectively.
Reference:
Pasternak A et al. Faster restoration of CD4:CD8 ratio during the first 12 weeks of ART initiated at early HIV infection compared with ART initiated at chronic infection in the same patients. AIDS2016. Durban, South Africa. 18-22 July 2016. Poster abstract THPEB033.
http://programme.aids2016.org/Abstract/Abstract/2641 (Abstract) http://programme.aids2016.org/PAGMaterial/eposters/0_2641.pdf (Poster PDF)


Health Statistics
Barbara A. Bartkowiak, MLIS, MST and Brian J. Finnegan, MLIS
By identifying statistical trends and trails, health care providers can monitor local conditions and compare them to state, national, and international trends. Health statistics provide empirical data to assist in the allocation of public and private funds and help to determine how research efforts should be focused. Whether considering disease incidence, accidents, cure rates, physician or hospital fees, malpractice, mortality, drugs, treatments, or medical devices, the primary source for statistical health data most often appears on government, international organization, or professional association web sites. Credibility is critical when using statistics; the following web sites offer authoritative data.


It is essential to implement effective disaster preparedness plans to improve response to emergencies. However, disaster management requires proper coordination of human resources and infrastructure to safeguard properties and protect lives. The US has formulated laws and regulations besides empowering its agencies to mitigate risks and respond to disasters. The Stafford Act, in particular, regulates the federal government, states, and their organizations in response to emergencies. However, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, raised concerns on the US disaster preparedness and response plans. This landmark event led to the establishment of the National Response Framework (NRF) to provide unified disaster management guidelines. However, the implementation of NRF has enhanced disaster preparedness and emergency response, but more strategies are necessary, especially in the wake of heightened risks, calamities, and catastrophes.
The lessons that the United States learned from Hurricane Katrina led to the formulation of the National Response Framework. According to Jackson (2014), the US response to the disaster was devastating and pointed out weaknesses in its emergency response agencies. The author, in this case, noted that the event revealed ineffective coordination between the states and the federal government agencies in mobilizing their resources for a robust response. The concerns regarding the performance of the systems in place besides laws and regulations led to the overhaul of the National Response Plan (NRP). In other words, the legislative amendments on the Stafford Act let to the establishment of the NRF, which came into effect in 2008.
Hurricane Katrina is the main landmark event that triggered the establishment of the NRF (Moynihan, 2009). According to the author, Hurricane Katrina is the worst natural disaster among living Americans. Over 1,800 people died during this event, which affected 92,000 square miles. Moynihan (2009) noted that many people died since they were left homeless and without supplies such as food. This situation suggests poor disaster management strategies, the inefficiency of the Department of Homeland Security (DMS), and the National Response Plan.
However, there were numerous emergency declarations and warnings before the landfall, but disaster management agencies still failed to manage significant risk factors (Moynihan, 2009). In other words, the responders such as the DMH were unable to strategize on appropriate levels of preparation through effective utilization of warning information. Also, such organizations failed to mitigate the effects of the impending disasters by minimizing risks. A critical weakness underlying the US intergovernmental disaster management system was a lack of institutional capacity to prepare and respond to national emergencies (Whiting, 2009).
The National Response Framework has streamlined issues and weaknesses that caused failure in managing the Hurricane Katrina of 2005. Bazan (2005) noted that the provisions of the NRF guide all the responses to disasters regardless of their impacts, size, or cause. NRF has 14 distinct Emergency Support Functions (ESF) to enhance the federal government's disaster response capability (McCarthy, Brown, Lindsay, & Petruzzelli, 2013). The elements of the ESF empower all the government agencies through resource allocation, pertinent authorities, and technical expertise to strengthen their ability during disasters. ESF 9 for instance, unifies all the federal agencies towards a shared mission of implementing operations to 'search and rescue' the population during terrorist attacks, earthquakes, hurricanes, or any other disaster (McCarthy et al., 2013). Thus, the components of the Emergency Support Functions address critical issues that contributed to the failure of disaster response plans during Hurricane Katrina.
Although the Stafford Act is closely linked with the NRF, the National Response Framework is distinct and thus does not require the declaration of the Stafford Act (McCarthy et al., 2013). Precisely, the NRF is independent and always in effect without further reference to the Stafford Act. The disasters declared under the federal authorities, and those that require the federal government's coordination are managed through the NRF. Therefore, the structures of the National Response Framework guide all disaster management operations across the non-governmental organizations, local governments, tribes, states, and federal agencies.
However, the Stafford Act supports NRF disaster management initiatives. It authorizes the delivery of logistical, financial, and technical assistance to localities during emergencies. The act provides for the establishment of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which supports the states in disaster response by providing relief assistance. Arguably, the existence of this organization would have prevented the deaths of more people during Hurricane Katrina, where hundreds passed away for lacking critical supplies. Also, the Stafford Act provides for the Presidential Declaration to prevent severe damage and loss of lives. This component empowers the president to declare disasters in response to adverse incidences affecting the people (Bazan, 2005). The Presidential Declaration thus is essential since it authorizes the release of more funds and disaster relief assistance as appropriated by Congress.
Conclusively, there are needs to protect humanity, especially from threats that result from pollution, accidents, and natural calamities. These components adversely impact on national resilience, infrastructure, economic stability, and the people's well-being. The United States, however, experienced weak disaster management efforts during Hurricane Katrina. The federal and state agencies failed to save lives through proper management of critical risk factors because of poor engagement among disaster response agencies. Hurricane Katrina is a landmark event that led to the transformation of emergency response systems through the formulation of the NRF. The Stafford Act enhance NRF Emergency Support Functions through the Presidential Declaration, which authorizes more support in the form of funds and relief assistance during disasters and emergencies.
References
Bazan, E. B. (2005, September). Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act: Legal requirements for federal and state roles in declarations of an emergency or a major disaster. Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress.
Retrieved 19 July 2019, from http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/crs/rl33090.pdf/url/ Jackson, B. A. (2014). Applying Lessons Learned from Past Response Operations to Strengthening National Preparedness. Retrieved 19 July 2019, from https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/testimonies/CT400/CT411/RAND_CT411.pdf/url/
McCarthy, F. X., Brown, J. T., Lindsay, B. R., & Petruzzelli, J. (2013). Congressional primer on responding to major disasters and emergencies. Congressional Research Service. Retrieved 19 July 2019, from https://fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/R41981.pdf/url/
Moynihan, D. P. (2009). The response to Hurricane Katrina. International Risk Governance
Council, Geneva, Switzerland. Retrieved 19 July 2019, from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/1afc/fecb50d9e95433e8bc9e6df823e976a45a71.pdf/url/
Whiting, W. (2009). Hurricane Katrina: Risk Communication in Response to a Natural Disaster. Effective Risk Communication, 77-89. DOI: 10.1007/978-0-387-79727-4_6
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This paper discusses the virtual platform known as the Metaverse. In light of developments in connection speed, virtual reality (VR), wearable technologies and artificial intelligence (AI), social interactions in virtual environments are set to take place at an advanced level.
Many technological innovations introduced to society arouse great excitement and curiosity with the promise of improving people’s current conditions and offering new possibilities. Every innovation deserves a certain excitement and curiosity, however, an exaggerated narrative may cause misunderstandings, lead to undesirable results, and engender grievances in society.Download the Discussion Paper


Physical exercise and sports are beneficial, and you should try to include them in your daily life. Exercise has significant positive effects on health, and this only increases with age. You may keep your independence as you age by engaging in regular physical activity and exercise. The advantages of sports and exercise for older people are listed below.
Many common ailments, including heart disease and diabetes, may be avoided by maintaining a regular exercise routine, as revealed by scientific studies. Many older people already have impaired immune systems, so they must exercise to boost their immune system’s general effectiveness. The benefits of exercise, even mild forms like walking, extend far beyond the physical. A list could go on and on about how exercise helps one’s state of mind. Endorphins are released during exercise and sports, and these emotions and states last for hours afterward. In addition, there is evidence that regular exercise can help older individuals who struggle with insomnia and other sleep disturbances get a better night’s rest.
Falls are more common among the elderly, which can have severe consequences for their ability to live alone. Strength and flexibility gained via exercise enhance balance and coordination, lowering the probability of injury from falling. It is essential for seniors to prevent falls in the first place because of how much longer it takes for them to recover from them. Exercise may be turned into a pleasurable social outing by participating in various organized activities, such as walking groups, group fitness courses, or gardening clubs. Elderly people who keep strong social links are less likely to experience isolation and sadness. Finding an activity you enjoy is the most crucial step in making fitness a habit rather than a burden.
Regular participation in healthy activities like sports and exercise may improve your life in many ways. Physical activity provides several benefits for the elderly, including illness prevention, reduced risk of falls, enhanced mental and emotional well-being, strengthened social bonds, and enhanced cognitive performance. We hope this will inspire you to make physical activity a regular part of your life, no matter how old you are.


Are you suspecting that your house is becoming damp? It is normal. The day to day house chores such as cleaning and cooking, laundry and activities such as showering contribute to a significant increase in indoor moisture. While it is perfectly normal and explainable as to why your home is damp, the unpleasant environment created by excess moisture at home can be unsettling.
There are several possible ways in which you may reduce the moisture such as improving air circulation through ventilation or even using room heaters (doesn’t work in the real sense). Nonetheless, if you are not satisfied, you can choose to invest in a dehumidifier. These home devices are becoming commonplace in most homes, especially in regions where the atmospheric humidity is relatively high. They are designed to reduce air moisture to a specific percentage which is desirable and conducive for indoor environments. But how does a dehumidifier work?
Different dehumidifiers are designed with different operating mechanisms. However, the standard operational mechanisms include removing moisture by refrigeration and by adsorption.
Moisture Removal by Refrigeration Moisture Removal by Refrigeration
A refrigerant dehumidifier has the following as the primary components:
Electric fan Compressor with coolants Cooling and reheating coils Drainage tank
When the device is connected to a power source and switched on, the fan is ignited. As it rotates, warm moist air is drawn inwards into the machine. The air passes through a set of filters where it is cleaned.
The sucked air is then channeled through a set of grills. The grills consist of pipes in which the refrigerant liquid passes. At this point, the refrigerant is in a liquid state, since it is compressed and is at a very low temperature.
As air passes over the pipes, the liquid refrigerant absorbs and cools the air below the dew point. As a result, the moisture held in the air mass condenses and trickles down to a drainage tank.
Since the air temperature will be significantly lower at this point, it is channeled to heating elements where its temperature is raised back to the original room temperature before being released.
During this process, there is an increase in the temperature of the refrigerant, which causes it to convert to a gaseous state. The gas is channeled to a compression chamber where it is cooled and compressed sufficiently to become a liquid, and the circulation process continues.
Meanwhile, as water accumulates on the drainage tank, its level is measured by a tipping bucket mechanism. When full, the sensors will send signals to the dehumidifier, and the user will see a blinking light which will make them aware that the bucket is full and needs emptying,
Moisture Removal by Adsorption Moisture Removal by Adsorption
These dehumidifiers are packed with an adsorbent material (usually hydrophilic). A hydrophilic material is one that has a high affinity for water. When such materials are exposed to the atmosphere, they will absorb moisture which then causes them to change state.
Primary components of an adsorption dehumidifier
Fan Rotor Heating elements Geared motors
It is also worth noting that all are fitted with filters to prevent any suspended particles from passing through the device.
At the heart of this dehumidifier is a rotor which is packed with an adsorbent material, most commonly, silica gel.
When the device is connected to a power source and switched on, the rotor ignites to motion and rotates slowly.
The fan begins rotating which draws in the air into the system. The warm moist air is filtered and channeled to the rotor. There, silica gel rapidly absorbs moisture from the air mass. Once the air has lost sufficient moisture, it is then channeled to the outlet.
During this process, the rate of absorption of moisture by the silica gel reduces gradually until it reaches a saturation point; where it cannot take in any more moisture.
At this point, the rotor transfers silica gel to the regeneration chamber. There, a separate mass of warm air passes over it causing it to lose moisture and become anhydrous again. Once this process is complete, the silica gel will be ready to absorb moisture from the air again.
The cycle is repeated. Since all the operational stages are self-reliant, there is little need for constant maintenance when it is in use. ‘
Modifications in Working Mechanisms Modifications in Working Mechanisms
Even though the two primary working mechanisms are by refrigeration and adsorption, there are many variations in the working mechanisms to increase efficiency.
A classic example is the SLGR dehumidifier. In principle, it is a refrigerant dehumidifier. However, it has specialized technology and microchannels fitted into it which makes it efficient in water absorption. Additionally, it has a digital display function making it convenient for first-time users.


As we shift into the next generation of tech-savvy consumers, the demand for self-service customer solutions will continue to grow exponentially. As highlighted by the Microsoft Global State of Multichannel Service Report, 92% of customers expect brands to offer a self-service option or FAQ page.
On the brick-and-mortar side, we’ve seen self-service kiosks pop up in restaurants, sporting events, and even healthcare facilities, but for contact centers, it’s not as simple as setting up a few touch screens.
We’ve already talked about how chatbots and AI will continue to expand and we’ll focus on the rise of conversational IVR in an upcoming post.
Another CX tool we anticipate for the next decade is the self-service deflection assistant. Using AI and automation, self-service deflection assistants are sort of a hybrid chatbot or virtual assistant. In a simple form, they can recognize specific actions by a customer, like returning an item, and guide them through the process using a basic decision tree. However, by harnessing the power of AI, we anticipate the next generation of these advanced deflection agents to handle much more complex tasks.


Factual Statistics Discussion
Integrating statistics is anauthoritativemode of adding a quantifiable and convincingfacet to an individual’s knowledge. It offers a foundationthat aids in developing anargument, proving a statement, or supporting an idea. Thefirst question I constantlyenquire when provided with statistics or data/facts is the origin of the information. This is involves asking if the source was an observation or a study conducted by the individual stating it or it originated from a reliable, substantiated and credited sources. The subsequentqueries I would most likely assesswill include the information date. This entails assessing if the information is from a recent research or experiment. How big was the geographical populace being planned or researched? Was the all the data collected in a single area or spread through a larger topographicalreach so data was less expected to be bias to a particularregion?
Age groups, philosophies, standards and principlesare all imperative when carrying out a research. For instance, ice scrapers that are frequently incorporated in New Jersey due to the snow conditions each year. On the other hand, in Florida, the climate is warmer and is not expected to experience snow conditions, ice scrapers are not used. It is challenging to carry outan effective research based on how effective ice scrappers is compared to other products or waysof getting rid of ice from a car windshield if the study is only done in Florida. Therefore, the origin of the data and the number of participants is significant in ascertaining the legitimacy of thefigures or a research. Being an inquisitive individual, I may requireverifying all the facts before believing them. When I accessinginformationthat brings in evidences and figures, I instantaneouslyaccess the internet and authenticatefrom several sources that contain truthful information and is accredited in a specific area of proficiency.Sound decisions and assumptionsshould be based on good, concrete information and statistics.


Everest Group’s just released research on Remote Infrastructure Management (RIM) services shows that the overall infrastructure services market, which was already undergoing significant changes due to various factors, is being further disrupted as RIM adoption takes center stage.
Let’s take a step back before we talk about RIM’s current state. Over the years, our RIM-focused research analyzed the growing challenges offshore providers, who pioneered RIM industry, faced in offering services that went beyond typical low-cost infrastructure monitoring. As their aspirations grew, and more buyers became willing to engage, those providers began offering newer RIM services, such as delivering from offshore locations those infrastructure services typically provided at onshore by competitors. Yet, the core value remained remote low-cost helpdesk and status quo monitoring of infrastructure assets, which experienced a significant growth across buyer landscape.
However, now we are witnessing substantial growth in the adoption of offshore infrastructure services that are moving beyond the typical RIM offerings. Our discussions with various buyers have revealed a clear evolution in the delivery and market messages of offshore infrastructure providers. Most of them are marketing and selling their portfolio of infrastructure offerings as “new service X,” “new service Y,” and “RIM,” unlike earlier years when they solely focused on RIM as a generic brand for all infrastructure offerings. This messaging effort is backed by changes in delivery model, engagement terms, transitioning process, investment in tools/automation, and various other related initiatives.
One example of this strategy is the willingness displayed by large offshore providers to open nearshore and onshore delivery centers to serve bigger customers. The typical 100 percent offshore ratio in RIM is dropping to around 80-85 percent as the providers offer higher value-added services that are normally delivered from client locations.
We are now seeing RIM providers gearing up to enter this new, big league. While cost savings is still the core tenet, their strategy is to move up the value chain, grab larger market share, and create more “downstream” opportunities for pure RIM services.
Traditional infrastructure and managed service providers that were already facing challenges due to stagnation in their core market and reduction in mega size, multi-towers, multi-years deals, are getting further squeezed by RIM providers. RIM providers are squarely part of this disruption, and are tweaking their delivery model, market messages, buyer engagement strategy, and investment focus to exploit this opportunity.